You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features.
By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact contact us.

Gay Partner Abuse

Rarely do we imagine abuse between two same-sex partners when we consider instances of domestic violence. However, gays and lesbians are just as susceptible to domestic violence as our heterosexual counterparts.

So, why do we hear so little about domestic violence between gays and lesbians and why are so few cases reported?

It's difficult to determine which partner is the victim (unlike heterosexual couples where the female partner is most often the victim).

Many gay men hesitate to report abuse for fear of exposing of their sexuality.

Although there are help centers for LGBT victims of abuse, few general abuse centers provide specific services for lgbt individuals.

Majority of support groups are comprised of heterosexual people. LGBT people feel they must either hide their sexuality or come out to the group.

Many gay couples share the same group of friends, so the victim may be afraid of losing the support he or she has built.

What are the different types of abuse?

Not all abuse or domestic violence is physical. Abuse can be in the form of:

The main motivator behind abuse is power and manipulation, which can stem from a number of the abuser's personal issues or past experiences. The important thing to realize is that the victim is not at fault. Patterns of abuse must be worked through by the abuser, and, for safety, the abused should remove themselves from the situation.